Race Recap: GAP Trail Relay

Disclaimer: I received free entry to The GAP Trail Relay race as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

Running a race can be hard, but it's even easier when you do it with friends! I was able to run the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) which is a 150 rail trail from Cumberland, MD to Pittsburgh, PA. A daunting task when you try to run it alone but the race is a relay.

You can have groups of 4, 6, or 8. I'm pretty sure you can have some mix in between but those are the sizes that you choose from. I was super pumped for this race because they sent the Bibrave team a little swag in the mail months before the race. It was a Read, Set, Move Box with so many goodies. This here really set the expectation for the race because they never lacked in the swag!

At race day check in I was the team captain so I picked up our bibs and welcome bags. Each bag had Balega socks, a tube of Nuun, Honeystinger gels and waffles, GU gels, a Nathan's tail light, a water bottle, Body Glide, and a gift card to Sheetz (local gas station). WOW! As a captain I got a few extra perks like a Brooks Run Happy Hat and a free pair of Brooks shoes of my choice. WOW again!

At the start they also had NYC bagels that were still warm, and photo opts with backdrops and frames. Brooks also had a booth to made signs to cheer along your team.

There was a mandatory safety meeting before the race started that detailed what to expect on the course for markers. This was super helpful since there are other people on the rail trail, so we knew what we had to look out for. They also set the expectation for safety gear during the night runs. Each runner was required to wear a reflector vest, headlamp or knuckle lights, and a tail light after 6:00pm and until 8:00am. This was important for people to see you and you see other people.

The race started prompt at 11:00am with the first leg. We printed out the directions to each of the exchange locations which was the best thing we did and a MUST do for anyone running the race. They did not print them for you. On the directions were turn by turn directions however there wasn't distance for each turn. So we got lost a few times because we were sure how long we were supposed to stay on each road. But then we realized that there were GPS coordinates for each exchange area. When we put those into our phones they took us right there.

The exchange areas always had a staff member from he race at them and a coned off area so we knew where to hand off the slap bracelet. As the race progressed there was so much food for us at the exchange areas. I'm talking pizzas, bagels and coffee, or Uncrustables and chips. They did not skimp out of make sure we had food throughout the race.

I ran the 2nd, 8th, 14th, and 20th legs. My total mileage was 24 miles. Scott had 30 which was the most of us all. Since the legs aren't the same length each time, we all ran different total distances.

In terms of what to expect from the course, the trail is relatively flat. It's a rail trail that follows the train tracks for the first maybe quarter of the race, then its just a trail through the woods. Not technical at all. A few of the legs had some hills but they were isolated legs, not consistent. The longest leg was 11.5 miles and the shortest leg was only 3 miles, so there was definitely a lot of variation between legs. The shorter legs didn't give us much time to drive to the next exchange area but we made it.

We did encounter some rain for the last half of the race. It wasn't the best but we had plenty clothes to change into so that we were stuck in the wet clothes freezing our butts off.

We all waited for Jenn to get close to the finish line and we ran as a team through the banner. The medal we got were HEAVY like a centimeter thick, like a said they didn't skimp on anything. We each got a pine tree sapling to bring home and plant.

Then we headed to the restaurant by the finish line and had beer, pirogies, and pretzels. That was the best was to celebrate, hot food and beer!

I really think you need to get a team together to try this race! It's a lot of run and has some beautiful views like waterfalls, rolling hills, windmills, and mountain top vistas. It was a soul feeding race for sure!

Preparing for your First Road Relay

Disclaimer: I received free entry to The GAP Trail Relay race as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!


Okay so it's time to get real. You just signed up for your first road relay and you have no idea what you got yourself into. What do you do? Panic? No, you should probably go for a run to get out any jitters, but you should be super excited!

I had just this reaction when I signed for the GAP Trail Relay, a 150 mile relay from Cumberland, MD to Pittsburgh, PA. I had never run a relay before but was excited for the challenge. The one thing that was exciting, and especially frightening was that depending on how you many runners are on your team, the amount of miles you need to run can change. Meaning that you're training for a race and have no idea how many miles you might be running. CRAZY!

So how do you train for a race that you don't know the final distance. My advice is to train for the long game. If you train like you're going to be running a lot of miles, then you'll be ready for when for them but if you end up running less then you'll be ready to crush those miles.

Now for the good stuff, packing for the race. There are a lot more things to consider when packing for a relay. Here are my top five things to keep in mind when packing for your first relay:

1.) Pack a running outfit for each leg of the race

The biggest advice is that you need to pack a running outfit for each leg of the race. After you finish your legs you will mist likely be hot and sweaty. I bet you can't wait to put those wet clothes back on for your next leg...said no one ever. Having a new outfit for each leg will make sure you are comfortable, dry, and reduce the chances chafing when you run again.

2.) Look ahead at the weather

This might sound silly but seriously check it out! You will mostly likely have a leg of the race that is in the middle of the night. That means color temperatures since there is no sun. Plan to have outfits for the warmer weather during the day legs and outfits for the cooler legs in the middle of the night. There could be rain on the forecast, that means packing Body Glide (which should be on your list anyways), but maybe a light rain jacket or tank top. Depending on the weather the rain jacket might be better at keeping you dry, but you also don't want it to lock in the heat. The tank top is a good idea in my opinion since there would be less clothes to get wet and chafe. Ouch!

3.) Make safety a priority

Safety has to be one of your biggest priorities, especially during a relay race. They're so many different scenarios that need to be addressed but to keep it simple I would say to make sure you are visible during the night runs. Wear reflective vest, have lights of some kind like a head lamp or Knuckle Light, and even a taillight. The more visible you make yourself the more likely other people will see you, whether they are cars, bikes, or other runners.

4.) Bring lots of fuel

Nutrition is a big component of running in general but there are additional things to keep in mind during relay. Before the race you will want to carb load to saturate your body with all the glycogen that it can store, like any race. But once you're finished with your legs you most likely only have hours to recover and be ready for the next leg. So you need to adjust your nutrition accordingly. After your leg you will want to consume protein within 30 minutes so that you body can start of the repairs. I also like to eat a serving of blueberries after each leg to help reduce inflammation. You also need to replenish the glycogen stores in your body before the next leg. So after you get that protein in then you need to start carb loading again.

BUT that doesn't mean feasting on the pasta and pizza. Remember you are going to be running again soon. You really don't want all that heavy food in yo
ur belly before you run. That's a recipe for a bellyache and then a trip behind a tree during the race.

5.)  Have fun

This is important for a few reasons. Most of us run to have fun so make sure that you do have fun during the race. Mindset is going to be a big part of running multiple legs, so if you start out having the mindset that this will be fun then you will have more fun. It's the power of positivity. During the down time between legs, have fun with your team. share stories and connect with them. It's going to build more camaraderie with each other and help them to all have fun too!

Now that you know my top five things to keep in mind as you prepare for your first road relay, get out there and have a great race!

If you're looking for a great road relay I would recommend the GAP Trial Relay. It's a newer race that is so organized and sure to be a blast for any running team!

Product Review: Aftershokz XTrainerz

Disclaimer: I received a pair of Aftershokz XTrainers to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review, find, and write race reviews!

So a few months ago I was able to test the newest and greater Aftershokz Areopex. Aftershokz took the amazing design and performance of the Aeropex, and like any amazing company, made them better!

The Xtrainers, pronounced "cross trainers," are designed to be used for many more sports but do not require a phone to be connected with. I'll say that again, they do not require a phone to be connected with. The Xtrainerz have storage capacity built into them so you treat it like a flash drive and you can upload all sorts of audio files to it, music, podcasts, and even audiobooks. It has 4GB of storage which is a lot for the slim size of the headphones

Did I mention that the Xtrainerz are fully waterproof for up to two hours at a depth of 6 feet? That means that you can take them in the pool, lake, and ocean without having to worry! With most underwater headphones you have cords, or limitations with bluetooth. The Xtrainerz have none of these issues. They use the same bone conducting technology to play the music while you swim. They even come with ear plugs too boot!

Biking with the Xtrainerz is so much more comfortable than you would think. I like being able to have my phone with me for the sense of comfort in case I need to call for help. But now I'm not tied to the phone, draining the battery with my headphones, so my phone will have the power to make a call if I need to. It's also nice to disconnect from my phone while biking too. I'm not constantly having the notifications distracting me.

The Xtrainerz charge is just 2 hours and have a battery life of 8 hours. What new to this design is a third button between where the normal volume button is. This button turns them on. The volume buttons have addition features like skipping tracks.

Let's get on to the benefits in terms of training. I am currently training for a marathon and found these headphones to make a big impact on my training. My cross training has been more effective since getting the Xtrainerz. I had a waterproof MP3 player and headphones but they were cheap and started to lose sound in one year. So during my swims I would be fighting with them to play music and keep the water out of my ears. Since the Xtrainerz come with ear plugs and use bone conducting technology I get to spend more time focusing on the workout.

It's also made me look forward to my cross training. I've recently gotten into listening to audiobooks. So when I cross train and listen to a book it's my time to disconnect from the world and enter my book. I find myself making time to go swimming just to continue with the book. This keeps me active and helps to give my body a break from all the running.

I think the Xtrainerz would be beneficial to anyone who used them. I can't wait for the opportunity to race a triathlon with them so that I can use them the entire race. The possibilities are endless now that they are waterproof and don't require bluetooth connection.

If you're interested in getting them you can use code "BRBUNDLE" - $50 off the endurance bundle.

On Tuesday October 22nd Aftershokz will be sponsoring the week Bibchat! Join us at 8pm EST.

Here's what the other Bibrave Pro's are saying:

Erica Jessica Christine Corey Meridith Scott Stephanie Nicole

Race Recap: Rock 'n' Roll Philly

"Disclaimer: I received free entry to Rock 'n' Roll Philly Half Marathon race as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!"

It's September and I finally ran my first running race of the year! I'm just getting my race season going this fall and I'm so excited that I was able to run such a fun Half Marathon! This year I have run two Spartan races and two triathlons, so my year has been far from boring.

I've been looking forward to running another Rock 'n' Roll (RNR) race since 2015 when I ran my first one in Chicago. Let me tell you, this race did not skimp out on any of the anticipation.

Since moving back home to NY, in 2017, I've been wanting to run a race in PA. I have family that live just outside Philly so this was the perfect opportunity to visit them for the weekend and get my race on!

I drove straight to the expo from work which was about 4 hours. The expo was easy and seamless. I met up with Bibrave Pro Joe at the expo and together we walked around to the booths and checked out the different vendors that they had. There were a lot of different vendors than you would typically expect at a race expo, like Purple Carrot and Daily Harvest. I found it interesting that they were both there.

I had all day Saturday to spend with my family. The best part was going out for a real brunch, duh!

Sunday was race day and I was nervous about parking since I know the race had a large number of people expected and it's in the downtown area. So I parked in one the recommended parking garages. The staircase led me to the understreet area which was terrifying. Luckily I found another runner in the race and we found our way together to the race start.

There were plenty of port-a-potties so the lines went quickly. The race started right on time and the corrals started quickly as well.

The first 5 miles of the race went through the downtown area. We were in China town the day before so it was nice to see a familiar setting. The course took us close to Independence Hall but not right past it, but I knew we were close. These miles were tough because of the wind tunnels that the buildings caused.

The next four miles took us down along the river which was very scenic and enjoyable The surrounding trees created fresh air which was a sharp contrast from downtown. Along these miles were live bands typical with RNR races. Most of them were pretty good but I do remember that there was one band that was singing "September" and they were so off that it was actually bad.

These miles by the river, though beautiful, were intense with the humidity and the micro-rolling hills. The slight up and then slight downhill definitely added some challenges, constantly changing your form. When we crossed the bridge to head back toward the finish the sun was in our eyes which just made it feel hotter. Then the uphill finish was unexpected. Not complaining about anything but I didn't look into the course beforehand so these elevation changes threw me off. I still managed to finish in under 2 hours which was my goal!

At the finish they had water, Gatorade, bananas, chips, Philly pretzels (FUCK YES), and multigrain crackers. The beer garden was close to the stage so you could enjoy a beer and listen to the awards which was a nice touch. Overall I loved the race and the challenge. I'm starting my race season strong and I'm ready for more!

Product Review: Nuun Rest

Disclaimer: I received tubes of Nuun Rest to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review, find, and write race reviews!

Do you run? Do you sleep? Then keep reading because this is going to be good! As some of you know, I am a Nuun Ambassador because I LOVE Nuun! Nuun has been making a huge impact in my health and running performance for years with their electrolyte tablets. They have released several different varieties of tablets over the years, with caffeine, with vitamins, with turmeric and other immunity boosting ingredients, and combinations of them all.

Nuun Rest is their newest formula which has tart cherry and magnesium to encourage relaxation and reduce exercise induced inflammation. They come in two flavors: Lemon Chamomile, and Blackberry Vanilla.

Unlike your typical Nuun tablet, you make Nuun Rest with less water, 4-6 ounces. Part of that is to not dilute the flavor, but also if you're drinking this before bed you really don't want to drink a lot of fluids or you'll have to get up and go to the bathroom in the middle of the night.

My experiences

I can honestly say that I love this product in so many ways! The taste is great on both flavors, very different than other Nuun products. I like the lemon chamomile hot and the blackberry vanilla cold, just a personal preference. Something to keep in mind is that the magnesium doesn't always dissolve fully, so it leaves crunchies. This is very normal.

I like to drink Nuun Rest before bed time to help my body and mind get into a state of relaxation. In turn this helps me get a more restful sleep. I work in the service industry which can be very demanding. I work long hours and have work with some discerning guests which can take it's toll on my body and mind. After a shift it's hard for me to go right to sleep because my mind is still going. Drinking a Nuun Rest has helped me fall get to sleep faster which leads to more hours of sleep and a wake up feeling more rested.

I'm played around with my Garmin watch, which monitors my sleep, to see if it makes a difference. On the nights where I drink a Nuun Rest, I spend more time in deep sleep than I do on nights where I don't drink it. Deep sleep is imperative for helping your body to recover and repair any damaged muscles from workouts.

Conclusion

I'll reiterate, if you run and sleep then you need to try this! It's just not worth a bad night's sleep when you can drink this tasty beverage before bed and wake up feel refreshed. When you mind and body are at their best you make better choice in nutrition, perform better in workouts, and have a clearer mind.

From now until October 31st you can use code: "HYDRATEBIBPRO" for 20% off. This does not include bundles nor subscriptions. 


See what the other Bibrave Pro's are saying:

Barb     Kimberly     Lissa     Ken     

Product Review: Aftershokz Aeropex

Disclaimer: I received a pair of Aftershokz Aeropex to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review, find, and write race reviews!

Okay did you see the hype that Aftershokz did with the release of Aeropex?? They removed all their pictures from Instagram and teased about the launch of something new. Then they added the email campaign with a countdown for blast off. Finally Aeropex landed on earth in an online store near you.

How could you not get super crazy excited about this release? Well let me tell you, it was well worth the week of teasing.

Aeropex are like nothing that Aftershokz has released before. They are the lightest model ever made and pack a powerful punch. Their battery life is superior to all other models, lasting 8 hours on a full charge. That like four or five days worth of exercise!

They are also fully waterproof thanks to the new charging port, and can play a better quality sound with its enhanced hardware.

Now let's get to the good part, using the Aeropex on a run!

Think of the comfort that you have with all the other models and double or even triple that. The slimmer frame fits better on the ears and doesn't cause any discomfort with over 2 hours of use. You can quote me on that because I have worn them for over two hours getting ready for a run and actually running.

Like the other models they stay snug on your head even with the sweat and movement from running, with no bouncing.

Let's talk sound quality. The one thing that I have been bummed with in the past is when I listen to a song in my car, it never really sounds the same from headphones because they cannot provide the same base as my car's stereo. These have been the closest sounding headphones that I have used. You can really feel the base with each song. However, not to get you worried, we are talking about bone conducting headphones but they have found the perfect balance of sound without making it feel like the music is pounding throughout your head.

If I have to find a downside to them I would say that it is difficult to lay on a pillow with them because they way the back of the band sticks out. But that is true with ever model of Aftershokz, so not a big deal at all. But that means I cannot fall asleep with them, and that makes me sad haha.

So really, what are you waiting for, just go and get them because regret is not something that you will feel from buying them. You will feel it for missing out and so many pleasurable running experiences.

Here is what my other Bibrave Pro friends are saying:

Mark Vanessa Corey

Exuma Marathon Getaway

Disclaimer: I received free entry to The Bibrave Bahamas Getaway as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!



Okay it's time to get HYPED! Have you ever dreamed of going to the Bahamas? I know I have! Bibrave has partnered with The Grand Isle Resort and Exuma Marathon to bring you the move exclusive and luxurious marathon experience!

In November I will be heading to Exuma, Bahamas for a once in a lifetime weekend! I will arrive on Thursday November 7th to The Grand Isle Resort with a welcome cocktail reception. I'll get a VIP Registration on the property, which most likely means no line and wait (hell yeah!).

Friday and Saturday will be free days to explore the island and enjoy the beach, tropical cocktails, and spending the day with Bibrave Pros Mai and Maria who are also coming to the Bahamas with me! I'm thinking of a shakeout run along the coast followed by some pool time to stretch out and lots of fresh seafood for all my meals! Does it get any better than that? Oh it does because Bibrave HQ will also be joining us!

It will have been just about an entire year since I've met up with Jess and Tim. We were in Austin together last year for The Running Event and now they get to support us as we run this amazing race in the bahamas.

Saturday night we get a pre-race pasta dinner, hello carbs! On race morning we get a shuttle to and from the race so we don't have to worry about navigating a new area. Race entry is included in the package also, so the value just keeps adding up!

Then we get to join the post race celebration and toast to an amazing race and weekend!

Did I mention that breakfast is included every day and they will be giving us a resort credit too? That credit can be used for cocktails and food throughout the resort.

Then Monday morning I will head back home. I'll be on Exuma for a total of four nights which is the perfect amount of time during November to get some sun before being stuck in the New York winter for several months.

I would love if you could join me on this amazing weekend because the #1 best part about running is the community that we have! So the ability to share this with other like minded runner would be priceless!

Keep up on my social channels updates on my training and how I'm getting ready for this amazing racecation!